Election Guide for Long Term Care Facilities 4 0 0 2 Florida
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ELECTION GUIDE FOR LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES 4 0 0 2 FLORIDA Provided by FHC PAC P.O. Box 1459 Tallahassee, FL 32302 (850) 224-3907 s (850) 681-2075 fax www.FHCA.org 2004 Election Guide for Long Term Care Facilities The 2005 Legislative Session will be a critical one for Florida nursing homes. The state budget crisis is such that legislators will not be able to avoid making serious and broad reforms in order to keep spending under control. The Medicaid Program is growing at leaps and bounds and executive and legislative leaders have stated that the program must be brought under control. Any major changes to the way Medicaid is financed will have serious implications for Medicaid recipients and providers, and for the state’s health care system as a whole. We must take every opportunity to ensure that we elect people who understand and support long term care providers. That is why the Florida Health Care Association is providing you with this election year guide. It contains information that the Association has collected on state Senate and House races. We do not intend it to be fully comprehensive; there are many candidates that we have not met. However, we share with you what we do know now so that you, your staff, residents and family members may become better educated as voters and more active in your elected official’s races. This guide contains the following items: * An outline of the 2004-2005 Grassroots Program - It describes our plan for the election and for the upcoming legislative session. * An issue summary sheet – It summarizes the issues we expect to be critical in the 2005 Legislative Session. * A chart with information on candidates for the Senate and House - Use it to learn about candidates and to invite them into your building so you can educate them on our issues. * Maps of Florida identifying the Senate and House district boundaries - If you have questions about where you are located, just call your local supervisor of elections. * Tips on how to conduct candidate visits to your facility - These excerpts come from the Grassroots 101 How-To Guide sent to members in 2003 and available on our web site. * Voter registration information - This will help with residents, family members and employees who need assistance with the voting process. Two important dates for you to keep in mind are August 31, 2004 and November 2, 2004. August 31 is election day for the primaries. There is no longer a run off election day. The general election will be held on November 2. Candidates will be campaigning hard until the primary, then the field will be narrowed and campaigning will continue until the general election. Call them, invite them to your facility, be flexible and give them as much notice as possible. Remember, they want to meet people and shake hands and what better place to do that than a nursing home? We are here to help you get involved in the elections. If you have a question, call the Legislative Department at FHCA. Also, please provide feedback to us on the candidates. Let FHCA staff know when you meet with candidates and what they tell you. As always, thank you for your assistance. This election is about making a difference in who represents us in Tallahassee. We must do our part to elect legislators who support long term care and who will vote to fix the problems we face. FHCA Grassroots Program Grassroots Program for the Florida Health Care Association 2004 –2005 Election and Legislative Session Period Candidate interviews and FHCA Endorsement (June-September 2004) - FHCA staff and lobbyist cross state interviewing candidates on LTC positions - FHCA sends mailing to members asking for their input on races in their communities. Members can recommend for FHCA to support or not support candidates for the legislature (early August) - FHCA lobbyist, staff, and PAC committee meet to decide which candidates the FHCA-PAC will support financially in primary elections (early August) - FHCA staff, lobbyists, and members will present PAC checks to candidates preferably at facilities (July-August) - FHCA staff, lobbyists, and PAC committee members decide who to support in General elections (September) Give the Members the Tools to Lobby (August ’04) - Distribute a “2004 Election Guide” that FHCA members can use during the primary and general elections to conduct facility tours and visiting with legislative candidates. - Offer for FHCA staff to attend district meetings and teach grassroots lobbying and a review of the primary and general elections. o Both Power Point and booklet format Facility Tours and Other District Activities (Aug – Oct ‘04) - Ask each facility to conduct at least one facility tour for a Legislator or candidate before the November 2nd election. - Assign facilities to conduct tours for key candidates and have appropriate staff and Association leadership at those events. - Encourage District Presidents to invite key candidates to district meetings over this period. - Provide PAC support at these events to those legislators who have demonstrated that they are supporters. Tallahassee Lobbying (Jan – May ‘05) - Lobby Wednesdays starting during the January Committee week period and running through session. o Have districts and regions take a Lobby Wednesday o Have companies take a Lobby Wednesday o Have related organizations take a Lobby Wednesday o Distribute the button for members to be easily identified in the Capitol - Encourage use of email system on FHCA website In January conduct a postcard campaign to all legislators. Try to generate 1 million postcards on budget issue - Midway through session, if needed put the 800 number into effect and encourage member calls to key Legislators on budget Continue Family Members (Sep ‘04 – May ‘05) - Have resident and family member involvement in our campaign events - Continue to fund the project to organize family members in key legislative districts - Utilize these volunteers during Committee hearings and in public relations events during the session - Develop a database of residents and family members available to testify before the legislature and conduct press events on behalf of long term care - Develop database of residents and family members available for writing letters, making phone calls, sending faxes and emails to legislators and staff - Manage the databases and communication activity Issue Summary FHCA 2005 Issue Summary The 2005 Legislative Session will be extremely critical in determining the future of long term care in Florida. We will likely find the Legislature considering legislation that is more sweeping than SB 1202. It is important to educate regulatory and legislative policymakers in how important issues impact the nursing homes in Florida and the residents that our dedicated employees care for every day. REIMBURSEMENT • The Florida Legislature enacted bold reforms in 2001 to fund increased staffing as part of a quality of care initiative. • Budget cuts in 2004 took away the equivalent funding that had been given to nursing homes in 2003 to comply with increased staffing requirements. In addition, this cut is taken from recurring expenditures making the reduction permanent. • Now nearly 100% of all nursing homes will have rates insufficient to cover their Medicaid costs. The 2005 Legislature should restore nursing homes to full funding before it implements any additional certified nursing assistant staffing mandates. MEDICAID REFORM • The Medicaid Program provides health care coverage and services to over two million state residents and at its current rate of growth it could bankrupt the state. State regulators and policymakers are soliciting ideas from the public and studying efforts in other states to determine reforms such as a “blockgranting” of the program that could be implemented as part of a massive reform. • The Governor has been clear in his intent to modernize the program by securing a federal waiver to allow the state to spend Medicaid money in the best way it sees fit for the states needy citizens. • Nursing home caregivers must be included in the planning process to ensure such options are carefully implemented to ensure quality nursing home care at appropriate reimbursement rates. MANAGED LONG TERM CARE • One of the most controversial issues that will come before the 2005 Legislature will be a proposal to move Medicaid long term care services under a managed care model. • Questions regarding costs and quality must be at the forefront along with assuring equal access to care for all Medicaid recipients. • This proposal, if passed, can fundamentally change how you provide services, are reimbursed, and the relationship between you and your patient by mandating a managed care entity in the delivery of long term care. • Any new integrated long term care model must ensure quality of care and proper reimbursement for services. The Florida Health Care Association is a federation of facilities representing long term care providers who believe that the individuals served are entitled to a supportive environment in which professional and compassionate care is delivered. Senate Candidates Only odd numbered Senate seats are up for re-election except Districts 20 and 34 due to incumbent withdrawal Florida Senate 2004 – General Election District Candidate Party Occupation PAC $ Answers to Q1 (HMO)* and Q 1 Tony Hill D Community Organizer Answer to Q1 Answer to Q2 ELECTED Notes: Sponsored union amend WITHOUT by nursing homes OPPOSITION 3 Nancy Argenziano R Legislator Answer to Q1 Answer to Q2 Notes: Consistently opposed an long term care providers Barry Brooks D N/A Answer to Q1 Answer to Q2 Notes: 5 David Organes W N/A Answer to Q1 Answer to Q2 Notes: Samuel Sasser W N/A Answer to Q1 Answer to Q2 Notes: Stephen Wise R Consultant Y Answer to Q1 Answer to Q2 Notes: Spoke in favor of tort r committee. Sponsored amendm to purchase goods off state pur supporter of long term care.